‘Soda Ban’ Changes Won’t Be Revealed Until Vote

A man attends a protest billed as the `’Million Big Gulp March” in lower Manhattan last month.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration plans to keep tightly under wraps any potential changes to a controversial proposal to restrict the sale of large-sugary drinks in New York City until the day of the Board of Health’s vote next month, the city’s health commissioner said Wednesday.

As the Journal reported, Bloomberg sparked criticism on Tuesday when he said the administration didn’t have any suggested alterations – substantial or slight – to the proposal following months of public debate. In May, the mayor recommended prohibiting restaurants and other venues from selling sugary drinks in cups or containers lager than 16 ounces.

The city’s Board of Health, an 11-member panel appointed by the mayor, is expected to approve the proposal at meeting on Sept. 13.

Dr. Thomas Farley, the board’s chairman and commissioner of the city’s Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, dodged questions on Wednesday about whether his staff is crafting any changes to the proposal.